Mining coal



June 17, 1924.

F. D. BUFFUM MINING COAL Filed Jan. 27, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet l F. D. BUFFUM MINING COAL June 17 1924. 1,498,506

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27. 1922 M@ @MVM June 17 192,4o 1,498,561@

F'. D. BUFFUM MINING COAL Filed Jan. 27 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 June T7 1924.

F'. D. EUFFUM MINING CGAL Filed Jan. 27, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet l June 17 1924.

F. D. BUFFUM MINING COAL Filed Jan. 27, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 17 1924.

F. D. BUFFUM MININ COAL Filed Jan. 27. 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented June 17, 1924o UNITED STATES IER-EHERIGK BUEFUM, QF PTTTSBURGH, ENNSYLVANIA.

MINING conn. Y

A ppncation filed January 27, 1922.

To @ZZ whom it may concern s Be it known that l, FREDERICK D. BUFFUMQ a citizen of the United States, and resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mining Coal, of which the following is a specification.

his invention relates to apparatus for mining coal or other minerals, and has for 'one of its objects the provision of a novel apparatus for mechanically conveying and loading the mined coal.

In the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a side elevation of my novel conveyer mechanism.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the cons veyer having side conveyer bars.

Figure f1 is a cross sectional elevation ou the line IPJV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the couveyer mechanism in position to be moved about a mine,

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic plan show-Y ing the conveyer mechanism equipped with a side wedge for sidewise movement into a pile of loose coal.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional elevation through the conveyer bar of Figure 6, on the line VTLJVH of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic plan showing the conveyer mechanism attached to a cut ting machine for sidewise movement in ker-f, and also showing one method for load ing the conveyed coal into the mine cars Figure 9 is a plan view of the skid track section upon which the conveyer is mounted when being moved sidewise into a pile of coal.

Figure 10 is an end elevation of the skid track section of Figure 9.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the conveyer mechanism comprises a flexible wheeled truck Q, provided with flanged wheels 3 which are mounted in pairs upon axles l and 5.

The wheels 3 of the truck are adapted to travel upon rails 6 and when it is desired to move the device sidewise into a bank of loose coal. the truck wheels will be mounted on a short track section composed of rails 6 and skid ties 7 which are in the form of flat plates having upturned ends 8.

Serial N'o. 532,175. t

A. conveyer frame 9 is pivotally mounted on e pivot shaft or bar 9Z1 journaled in the side pieces of the truck 2, and is adapted to rock thereon.

A pair of conveyer supporting arms 10 are arranged at each side of the frame 9 and inclined rearwardly and upwardly with their forward ends projecting beyond the forward end of the frame 9 and terminating approximately on al line with the track rails 6.

A conveyer bar or frame adapted to be inserted in a kerf cut in the coal to be mined is pivotally secured to the forward end of the conveyer guides 10, and comprises a pair of spaced side members 11 which are mounted on a pivot shaft 12 secured in the forward ends of the arms 1() and are held in rigid spaced relation by a spacing or hed plate 11.

A pair of beams or angle .iron supports 13 are arranged in spaced alinement at each side of the frame 9 and have their rea-r ends secured together by angle members 14.. their lower ends being secured 'to the bottom of the conveyer framen The supports 13 as thus arranged combine to form guideways for suitable bearing blocks 15 in which is journaled a conveyer head shaft 16. The bearing blocks 15 are adjustably mounted between the supports 13 and are moved by means of bolts 17 which pass through the members 14 and are engaged in screw threaded apertures in plate or nut 18 which is forced toward or away from the members 111 according to the direction in which the bolts 17 are rotated.

The shaft 16 is provided with a pair of suitable conveyer sprockets 19 which are keyed or otherwise securct thereon, and a second idler shaft 2O is jourualed in lthe forward ends of the side members 11 of the conveyer bar and is provided with a pair of suitable conveyer sprockets 21. Au endless flight conveyer has its endless side chains 22 trained over the sprockets 19 and 21 and is adapted to convey the mined coal rearwardly where it is discharged.

The conveyer and truck are both driven by a single meter 24- mounted on a detach able frame 25 which is bolted or otherwise detachably secured to the upper face of the conveyer frame 9. A controller and rheostat or other electrical control apparatus 26 for controlling the motor 24 is also mounted titl on the frame so that the electrical mechaA nism all forms a detachable unit which may be removed in case it becomes damaged and a neu7 unit substituted.

The motor 24 is provided with a sprocket 27 on its armature shaft which is connected to a sprocket 28 on a d rive shaft 29 a drive chain 29?. The shaft 29 is journaled in suitable bearings 30 on the frame 1'1". e sprocket 8.1 is loosely mounted on the shaft 29 and is connected by a chain 32 to a sprocket 33 on the rear axle 4 so as to dr.' l the conveyer along the track. The rear axle 4 and front axle 5 are provided 'with sprockets 34 and 34a, respectively.y which are connected by a chain 35 so as to positively drive all four Wheels of the truck.

A second sprocket 36 is loosely mounted on the shaft 29 and is connected to a driv, sprocket 37 on the conveyer head drive shaft 16 by a chain 38.

The loosely mounted sprockets 31 and S6 are provided with clutch faces 559 and 39H.

respectively, which co-.operate with suitable clutch membersv40 and 41, respectively slid-- ably Ikeyed on the shaft 29. Clutch operating levers 42 and 43 are secured respectively to the clutches' 40 and 41 and extend back to the rear of the machine Where they en a notched rack or `bar 44, is Will be readily understood, either or both of the clutches may be engaged at the same time with their respective sprockets7 so that either the con veyer alone may be operated or the truck alone driven, or the conveyer may be op erated at the same time the truck is beine driven.

The chain 32 Which is trained aliaoiu 'the sprockets 31 and 33 is kept taut so as to properly engage the sprockets bj.' a sheave 46 journaled on the short end of a. Weighted lever 48 which is pivotallj.' mounted adiacent one end on the projecting end of pivot bar 9a. The lever 4S being` pivotcd adjacent one end7 allows the remainder of the bar to over-balance the short end to Which the sheave 46 is: secured. thus oonstantl," fore inp; said sheave against the chain The chain 38 which is trained about the sprockets 36 and 37, is kept taut by a sheave 50 which is journaled on a shaft adapted to be mounted in any one of several adjusting;` holes 50a in the frame 25, and adapted 'to be raised or lowered against the chain 38 as desired to secure the proper stretch thereof.

A brake mechanism is provided for controlling' the speed of the truck travel and comprises an operating' lever 51, a crank lever or arm 52 journaled in bearings 53 and 54, and a brake block 55 adapted to engage the front and rear Wheels at one side of the machine When the crank lover 52 is rocked retrasos traveling through the mine from` ene Working,` place to another by a chain The chain is provided at one end with a ring 67 to Which is secured branclr chains 65a and 65b which are connected to hooks 5S and G9 on the opposite sides of the conveyer bar. rlhe free end of the chain 65 is trained rearwardly and Wrapped at least once around a pocket sheave 56 iournaled on the frame 25, and then forwardly and over a second pocket sheavc 5T and downwardly and around a pocket sheave 5S on the shaft i6. The pocket shea-ve 56 is provided 'with a toothed ratchet portion 59 adapted to be engaged by a paivl 60. The `tree end of the chain 65 is adapted to be engaged by the operator While the shaft 16 is being operated, thus pulling' the chain around the several sheaves, and when the conveyer bar is raised to its desired level. the operatoi.' will release the chain 65 from the slieave and the chain Will still hold the conveyer bar in its raised position, due te the ratchet and pavvl lock on the sheave ln Figures 3 and 5 l have shou'n the ma chine equipped With a detachable platform Which is secured to the rear end of the machine upon which the operator stands to control the machine, and upon which is secured a reel for paying' out or taking up the electric cable through Which the electrir current passes to the operating' motor of the machine.

The detachable platform comprises angle iron side members 71 suitablyv spaced apart and supporting a board platform Til. The

forward ends of the side members T1 are notched and detachably supported on studs 73 on the lower support member 13. .fr pair of supporting' cables 74 are secured adjacent the rear ends of members 71 and are joined to a single cable 74a which is secured to a hook 75 on the frame 25 to detachably hold the platform in position.

A. pair of upright bearing,r posts T6 are secured to the side members 71 at the rear ends thereof, and a reel 77 is journaled therein. The reel 77 is provided at one end with a friction Wheel 78 Wh ich is in engagement With a small friction wheel 7.0 on an operating sprocket 8O which is journaled on a stub shaft 81 secured to the platform. The sprocket 8O is driven by a chain 82 which is trained around the sprocket and around a second sprocket 83 on the rear axle 4 so that as the axle 4 is driven to move the truck along the tracks 6 the reel '.77 will be driven to pay out or take up the cable 70.

Then the detachable platform is secured to the rear of the convejf'er frame 9. it serves as a counter-balance. and rocks the frame 9 about the bearing' shaft 9n into a substnir tinllv horizontal position. The frame 9 is adapted to be locked in this position when movingabout the mine by a chain 62 which.

is secured to the rear end of the trate-9 and adapted to be eng ged in ay split lug` or 'a c crow-'foot 03 on the t^-u lr 'traine 2.

ln the construction of Figures et, and 5. shown the main conveyor har equipped with side conveyer hars 106 aoc-.ph ed to remove loose coal troni each side ot the main convegf'er har. which are mounted to slide longitudinalljuv relative to the main convever har on shat'l's 107 journaled in suitable hearings 108 secured to the side meniloers 11 of the main convever bar. The she tt 20 on the main convejver har is provided at each end with bevel `gears 109 adapted to mesh with hevel vgears 110 on the sha-'tts 107.

The conve'ver bars 106 comprise side bars 112 held in spaced relation bv a bed plate 11?). and provided at their rear end with a sprocket sleeve 1141 slid-.ably keyed on the shaft 107 and provided with sprockets 11? and 11.6. A Bsprocket shaft 117 havingf sprockets 11S and 119 is journaled in the torivard end ot the side hars 112 and an endless flight conveyor 120 has its side chains trained over the sprockets 11K. 116. and ne. ne.

lt will thus he apparent that when the convever on the main convever har is operated, it Will rotate the shaft 20.I which in turn Will rotate the shafts 107 through the beveled gears 109 and 110, Therefore. since the sprocket sleeves 1141 are keyed on the shafts 107. theyv will he operated. to drive the convevers 120 on the side convever hars 106.

In order to inove the side conveyer bars into the coal. cables 121 are Secured to the 'torvvard side ot the bars 106 and trained over sheaves 122 adjacent the forward end ot the main convever har. thence rearwardlv to a point adjacent the rear end ot the main convelver har where the;7 terminate in a loop or e ve adapted to he engaged lov the hoolr of operating chains 124= The chains 1241- are adapted to loe passed rearwardly and Wrapped around the pocketsheaves and 93'. the loose end being: held hy the operator. so that When the shaft 16 and sheaves 93 and 93a are operated. the chains 124 will he pulled rearwardly and the side convever bars 106 moved forwardlv.

@ther chains 125 are secured directl;v to the rear side of the convehver hars 106 and. are adapted to he entra-eed over the pocket sheaves and 93a to move or pull the convever bars out of the coal.

It will. ot course, loe understood that the side convever hars 106 are adapted to he swung up to a vertical position. either manVv uallv or otherwise, hetore moving the device around the mine.

In Figures 6. 7, and 8, I have shown the convejver equipped tor sidewise movement into the loose coal at the side of the conveyer har, thus eliminating the side con# revers. ln this co l detachable Wedge member 85 is secured in position along: the side of the conveyor har. The

Wedge p ovided with a notched or cut t to iit around the hoolr 68., which serves to hold it in position against the convejif'er har Twhilev the har is being moved into and out of the hert. ldlhile only7 a lett-hand wedge is shown and flescrihcd. it will he understood that u right-hand Wedge maj.'v also loe provided to Ht the righthand side ot the har when it is desired to more the niachiiie in that direction.

The convejver machine may he moved bod il;7 along' .the surface ot the mine hv noir pling it to the cutting; machine B used in forming the lient as shown diagramnuiticallv in Figure 8. in which the convever and cutting machine are shown coupled hv meinhcrs 87 and 88. or the machine maf.7 he moved hv its ovvn power hv use ot the inechai'iisin shown in Figure 6. llVhen the machine is moved by its oivn power. a jack or other suitable anchor S9 is secured at a point in the mine bevond the point to which it is desired to move the machinen and a sheave 90 is secured by a short length of chain to an anchor hoolr 91 on the end ot the convever har pivot 12. a pulling chain 92 is secured to the jack or anchor 89 and passed around the sheave 90 and Wrapped around a povver sheave 93 on the end of the convever head shaft 16. the loose end heing held hv the operator and pulled taut on the sheave as it is rotated. ln order to control the movement oil" the rear end ot the machine. Which will he unobstructed by loose coal. a snub chain 95 is secured to the opposite side ot the machine trom the pullingT chain and adjacent the rear end thereof. The snuh chain 95 has one end secured to a jack 96 and is passed around a sheave 97 connected by a. short chain 98 to an anchor hoolr 99 secured to the truclr 2 of the machine. The chain 95 passes from the sheave 97 rearvvardlv. and is Wrapped around the power sheave 93a on the end of shaft 167 the loose end heine: held bjr an operator. As the shaft 16 is rotated, the chain 92 is pulled around the sheave 93 hv its operator ivhile the chain 95 is paid out hv its operator. thus the moveinent of the machine is controlled so as to compel the forward end to advance through the loose coal at its side.

lt will be understood that the anchor hooks 91. 99 and poiver sheaves 93 are duplicated on looth sides of the machine so as to permit the pulling4 chain and the snuh chain 95 to be connected to either side ot the machine according to the direc-tion in which GfL and skid ties 7 is moved withthe machine as a unit, the fiat ties 7 forming skids upon which the Whole unit is moved.

In Figure 8 I have shown diagrammatically my conveyer mechanism in position in a kerf formed along a rib in a mine, the wedge being in position along the side of the conveyer bar. The conveyer mechanism is shown coupled to the cutting ma chine B for the purpose of moving it sidewise under a new lot of coal preparatory to shooting or otherwise breaking it down. n

A plurality of portable conveyers 101, 102, and 103 are arranged to receive and convey the coal from the main conveyer to the cars 105. The conveyers 101, 102, and 103 are of standard type, well known in this art, and their use enables the coal to be delivered at a point where a string or train composed of a number of pit cars may be pulled past the delivery point and loaded one after another, thus eliminating the necessity of loading one or two cars at a time and shifting them out of the way in order tol bring up other empty cars By the use of this improved apparatus, manual handling of the coal is eliminated, and the cost and labor of mining the coal is greatly reduced.

One of the main features of my invention is the flexible truck and pivotal connection between the truck and the conveyer frame. This construction allows all four wheels of the truck to have traction on the tracks at all times regardless of the uneven condition of the track, it also preventing distorting strains being conducted to the conveyer frame.

While this invention has been described in detail, it will be understood that I do not wish to be lmited beyond the express limitations of the accompanying claims.

I claim-a 1. A loading machine comprising a wheeled truck, a conveyer frame pivotally mounted for vertical pivotal movement thereof, a main conveyer har pivotally mounted on the forward end of said frame, a shaft journaled adjacent the rear end of said frame, a second shaft journaled in the forward end of said conveyer bar, means for driving said vfirst mentioned shaft, sprockets secured on said shafts, a continuous conveyer member trained about said sprockets, shafts extending parallel with and ournaled in bearings on the sides of said main conveyer bar. bevel gears connecting the shaft mounted in the forward end of said main conveyer bar and said last named shafts` side conveyer bars slidably mounted on said last named shafts and extending atright angles to said main conveyer bar, and endless conveyer members mounted on said side conveyer bars and adapted to be operated by said last named shafts,-

2. A loading machine comprising a wheeled truck a conveyer frame pivotally mounted for vertical pivotal movement thereon, a main conveyer bar pivotally mounted on the forward end of said frame, a shaft journaled adjacent the rear end of said frame, a second shaft journaled in the forward end of said conveyer bar, means for driving said first mentioned shaft, sprockets' secured on said shafts, a continuous conveyer member trained about said sprockets, shafts extending parallel with and journaled in bearings on the sides of said main conveyer bar, bevel gears connecting the shaft 'mounted in the forward end of said main conveyer bar and said last named shafts, side conveyer bars slidably mounted on said last named shafts and extending at right angles to said main conveyer bar, endless conveyer members mounted on said side conveyer bars and adapted to be operated by said last named shafts, and means for positively moving said side conveyer bars longitudinally relative to said main conveyer bar.

3. A loading machine comprising a wheeled truck, a conveyer frame pivotally mounted for vertical pivotal movement thereon, a main conveyer bar pivotally mounted on the forward end of said frame, a shaft journaled adjacent the rear end of said frame, a second shaft journaled in the forward end of said conveyer bar, means for driving said first mentioned shaft, sprockets secured on said shafts, acontinuous conveyer member trained about said sprockets, shafts extending parallel with and journaled in bearings on the sides of said main conveyer bar, driving means connecting the shaft mounted in the forward end of said main conveyer bar and said last named shafts, side conveyer bars slidably mounted on said last named shafts and extending at right angles to said main conveyer bar, endless conveyer members mounted on said side conveyer bars and adapted to be operated by said last named shafts, and means for moving said side conveyer bars longitudinally relative to said main conveyer bar.

4.. A loading machine comprising a wheeled truck, a conveyer frame pivotally mounted for vertical pivotal movement thereon, a main conveyer bar pivotally mounted on the forward end of said frame, a shaft journaled adjacent the rear end of said frame, a second shaft journaled in the forward end of said conveyer bar, means for driving said first mentioned shaft, sprockets secured on said shafts, a continuous conveyer member trained about said sprockets, a shaft extending parallel with and journaled in bearings on at least one side of said main conveyer bar, bevel gears connecting the shaft journaled in the forward end of said main eonveyer bar and said lastnamed shaft, a side conveyer bar slidably mounted on said last named shaft and extending at right angles to said main oonveyer bar, endless conveyer members mounted on said side oonveyer bar and adapted to be operated by said last named shaft.

5. A loading machine comprising a Wheeled truck, a conveyer frame pivotally mounted on said truck for movement about a horizontal exis, :i oonveyer bar pivotally mounted on the forward end of said frame, zt shaft journa-ied Vddjcent the rear end of said frame a second shaft journaled in the forward end of Said bar, sprockets secured on said shafte, a continuous eonveyer niember trained about said sprockets, means for adjusting said irst named shaft to take up the sind; in said conveyer, a prime mover carried by said frame, a. drive shaft journaled on said freine, and drive connections between said drive shaft and said truck und oonveyer, said drive connections including manuaiiy operated clutches.

In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand.

FREDERioK D. BUFFM. 

